Life as a Lewis

Last week Rory learned how to swing. I am very tempted to include the word "finally" in the previous sentence, but Elizabeth tells me she had several kindergartners learn to swing this year so I guess Rory's not actually the last 5 year old on the planet to learn how to swing all on her own. And I, of course, was on hand to document it. I'm fairly proud of myself for actually getting these pictures correct. Getting in focus pictures on a swing is not easy, although it's infinitely easier now that I don't have to actually push her and then run around and try to focus and shoot. ;) That pesky hair gets in the way, especially when someone's mama didn't take time to actually comb or fix the hair. Taken with my 50mm 1.4, f2.8, 1/640SS and 400 ISO

While my family was visiting, we took a break from WW and made a few very delicious but bad-for-you recipes. Here's a rundown. Pots de Creme by Pioneer Woman. In a word: WOWZA. Brian actually thought these were too chocolatey. Is that even possible? I think what he meant is that maybe they weren't sweet enough for him because of the espresso and very dark chocolate, but my mom and I thought they were out of this world amazing. Slutty Brownies . Oh. My. Stars. These were a big hit all around and even better topped with a scoop of ice cream. Pioneer Woman Rosemary Buttered Rolls . These were really delicious and super easy since they use frozen yeast rolls. Despite the fact that I love bread, we've been avoiding bread (and butter) because of Weight Watchers so these probably tasted better than normal. Weight Watchers spaghetti sauce . This sauce along with some whole wheat angel hair spaghetti satisfied my pasta craving and is pretty good for you especially when...

Woke up this morning feeling so much better than the previous days since surgery. I can feel myself winding down already (at only 9 a.m.) but it's so nice to feel the end might be in sight. Our weekend plans include 3 baseball games, 1 soccer game plus soccer pictures as well as a fund raising service. Here's hoping we can squeeze in some packing in the midst of that. We're considering using a Pod and letting them store and deliver our stuff for us because it's looking as if we're probably not going to try to rent an apartment since we hope it will only be 4-6 weeks. Anyone have experience with Pods ? Still trying not to panic about this whole thing. I've appreciated the Scripture my friend Alicia sent me - Hebrews 1:8 " ...by faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going..." as well as the devotions that have "coincidentally" happened during my daily reading. And t...

So. Turns out that a 4" incision along my waist line is kind of painful, not to mention the areas above and below where Dr. W "scraped" out the scar tissue. (I'm including that word "scraped" because it makes Becky cringe every time.) I am so happy to have had my parents here for the last couple of days helping me out. I think it's possible I'm not a very good patient. My mom and dad, on the other hand, are very good caretakers. Approximately 30 seconds after they pulled out of the drive way, Rory was in tears and Camden said, "the house just doesn't feel the same without them." Here are a few pictures from yesterday. I didn't bring the camera out nearly as often as I should have over the last week, although I've got that whole surgery excuse going for me. I am going to miss this grassy, shade-covered yard a whole lot. I've been off the computer for most of the week, but I'm jumping back o...

Well, it appears as if Psalms 46 from Sunday was for us after all because last night we were asked to move out of our house May 23. Yes, as in less than a month from now. Obviously, the timing of this is less than ideal, and although we knew that it was a possibility, it stings a little. Okay, maybe more than a little. Transitioning seamlessly from Tennessee to Texas is clearly not going to happen, and if you know me well, then you realize that dealing with transition is most definitely not my strong point. In fact, not having a solid home base for our little family fills my heart with panic. I need routine, space, a plan, peace. We're still planning to move to Texas, but because schools are still in the process of working out their needs for the upcoming school year and haven't started hiring, Brian is not yet employed by the Texas school system. I have confidence that God will provide a job, but it appears as if He's asking us to trust Him just a little bit more tha...

Good news. I came home with all my own undergarments this time. ;) Surgery was fine. Found out after the fact that Dr. W was concerned about something much more serious with the scar tissue, but it turned out to be a lesser problem so he just scraped it all out and sent me home with plenty of pain meds. My nurse told me I had to do 3 things: (1) be a couch potato for the next couple of days, (2) stay on top of my pain meds, and (3) don't shower for the next 24 hours. TMI? My CT scan shows no new growth. The old pieces of cancer remain, but they appear to still be calcified so I'm glad I didn't spend the weekend worrying. The sermon yesterday was part of a series on Psalms 46 on fear and how God never changes and remains good despite our own changing circumstances. I have to admit that as I tried to soak in the truths being spoken, I was also praying desperately that God had not sent that message to us because He knew we were going to need it this week. Turns out, i...

Today is surgery day for me; we have to leave the house at the ungodly hour of 4:55 and all I can think about is the fact I haven't eaten in 36 hours. I still haven't heard anything from the doctor about my CT scan so I'm going to assume everything is okay. If I find out something is wrong, at least I've enjoyed a worry-free weekend. Here's hoping I won't find someone else's underwear and socks in my surgery bed this time. ;) And here's a glimpse of Rory at the March of Dimes walk yesterday from a local news channel.

Yesterday was a busy, busy day with a full morning, rush to the hospital to spend 3 hours drinking contrast (ICK!) and waiting for a 10 minute scan. We then high-tailed it to Pinkberry since I had to fast during the morning and was craving yogurt. A quick trip to Costco then back to pick up the kids, then off to the ball-park for a 7:30 game for Camden where we froze our socks off watching his team play very, very poorly. This seems to be a trend, by the way. Freezing our socks off and a very poorly played game. On today's agenda is a shopping trip with my mom and Elizabeth. Dad is the designated babysitter and is staying home to watch Addison as well as take my kiddos to and from school. I'm also scheduled for a haircut which is always a highlight, and tonight we're all going to see a production of The Wizard of Oz. Sounds like a good day, right? These two cuties played opposite each other Saturday. Emma's team won, of course, but we held them to 2 points whic...

I started having some pain in my lower left abdomen Saturday night (and, no, it's not a gall bladder flare up - wrong side and location). Bad enough that I stayed on prescription pain meds Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Honestly, I didn't think that much about it until I remembered two different stories of cancer patients finding new tumors because it started to hurt and they could actually feel them. And when I called the doctor and he automatically ordered a CT scan, I started to be a little freaked out. Over the last 48 hours or so I've been convinced I feel a ginormous lump about a hundred times, and about a hundred times I've been convinced it's nothing. The pain issue is slightly complicated by the fact that my scar tissue decided to go out with a big hurray and abscessed again over the weekend, and both the scar tissue and new pain area are in the same general location. The good news is that I didn't have any pain at all yesterday, but I...

Trying out a high contrast b/w Lightroom preset by Sabrina today. She's been working on perfecting a pouty attitude lately. And her mama has been working on perfecting getting rid of the pouty attitude. It looks like she's winning, but the battle's not over.

"All right, then. The next time you cry, I'm just gonna let you cry it out because you are not keeping our deal." from Rory to Addison If you're interested in moving to Texas, here's some material on McKinney - can't wait to move here! I am finding that the longer I'm on WW and eating healthy, clean foods, the less tasty artificial food tastes and the more delicious decadent food tastes. For instance, I had a bite of Rory's Wendy's frosty the other day, and it tasted so fake and gross. But my bite of all-natural Breyer's was AMAZING. And I've noticed that when I have something that actually has butter in it, I can really tell because it's so much more delicious than low-fat food. My friend Vicky , who is battling breast cancer, is up for an award. I'd love it if you'd watch her video and then vote. You have until April 18. Video and vote here . While watching a commercial for DWTS, Rory says, " Mama, I jus...

After taking pictures for this Lilypad post , Rory and I sat playing in the grass, and Brian snapped our picture. Ignore the expression on my make-up-less face and look at how cute Rory is. ;) 50mm 1.4 lens, f2.8, ISO 200, 1/320 SS

Just some thoughts that have been going through my mind. Now that we're past the year mark of my diagnosis, I find random things popping up in life that remind me of what was going on a year ago. For instance, I recently changed purses and suddenly my mind flashed back to sitting in Dr. W's office on our first visit with him. His nurse Stephanie was preparing us for my surgery (you know, the one that resulted in a 9 day hospital stay that we had all of 12 hours to prepare). She noticed my purse and told me that I'd not be allowed to even carry my purse for 6 weeks after surgery. Or the fact that the hospital had very few TV stations, but one of them happened to be TLC. A new series called Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids was debuting and we must have seen the preview for that show at least 100 times. And this week I saw a commercial for the brand new season and just like that I was back in the hospital laying in the bed watching it. Late at night over the last yea...

Easter felt a little strange this year. Between baseball schedules, feeding 6 kittens round the clock, and not having our own church to attend, it just felt rushed. I remembered late in the day that last year on Easter I was in the middle of a 48 hour fast in preparation to have both my ports installed. It's probably good I didn't remember before Easter dinner or I would have stuffed myself. ;) Monday morning as I read some scripture to the kids before school, we came across Romans 5: 8 ("But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!') and I took a deep breath and let that wash over me, and I thought to myself, "that's what I was missing yesterday." And a few pics. I didn't drive myself nuts getting many posed ones, just whatever I could catch on the go. Completely out of focus, but they were having such a good time I couldn't resist keeping it. Excuse the bobble head picture. I blam...